Typewriter ribbon rejtxvenator



sept. 6,1932.

Original' Filed May 2, 1929 /JQQ Reime'd sept. ve, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 FLOYD E. sWImzEE., lE BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, Ass'reNoE, BY MEsNE Ass1ermafrENrrs, 'ro HENRY s. ELUMENTHAL, or MEMPHIS,l TENNESSEE TYPEWRITER RIBBON REJUVENAOR Original Np. 1,820,588, dated August 25, 1931, Serial No. 359,983, led May 2, 1929. Reissue No. 18,441, dated .April 26, 1932, Serial No. 572,149, led October 30, 1931. This application for reissue iled June 13, 1932. Serial No. 617,065.

My invention relates to a device for rejuvenating and extending the useful life of a typewriter ribbon and ribbons of similar construction, economical to manufacture,

and which shall be effective to furnish an even supply. of moistening fluid to a ribbon throughout the' length thereof and thereby greatly extend the useful life of a ribbon.

' A further obj ectof my invention is -to provide a small, easily manipulated device which may be readily employed from time to time as occasion requires7 to meisten a type-- writer ribbon with a proper solution, and which shall be effective to evenly distribute the moistening flui throughout the ribbon without an excess aV any one point which would cause the ink t spread and the impressions of the type to belblurred.

It is well known that the ink in typewriter ribbons in use soon dries out to such an eX- tent that the impressions;` Vof the type become faint and the ribbon has`to be discarded and a new one supplied. It is also'well known that this occurs when only a small percentage of ink in the ribbon has been used up. Attempts have been made heretofore to apply to the ribbon a suitable ink solvent which would remoisten the ribbon and make available a larger percentage of the ink supply therein but great difficulties have been encountered in carrying out such an application in the way of supplying a uniform amount of the moistening fluid to the ribbon throughout its length. I have found that unless the ribbon be thoroughly and uniformly moistened throughout its length the impressions made from the type are uneven in appearance, varying from a faint impression Where the moistening isv inadequate, to blurred impressions where there isan excess of moistening fluid. v

These and other difficulties are overcome byrmy invention endl accomplish a uniform distribution of the moistening iiuidthroughout the typewriter ribbon so that type irnpressions of uniform appearance are obtained from the ribbon and its useful life multiplied many times over what it would have been without the use of my device. In accordance With my invention I provide a pad of fibrous material which is retained by a covering or wick of felt or other equivalent material which is adapted to bear against the typewriter ribbon and provide means whereby thewick is impregnated or saturated with an even supply of moistening fiuid in the nature of an ink solvent and this degreeof saturation' appears to remain substantially `constant while the ribbon is drawn from end to end thereof over the face of the covering so that the fluid is applied to the ribbon uniformly. When this is done, the type impressions made with the ribbon'are uniform and not blurred.

- The moistening fluid is supplied to the back ofthe coveringbymeans of a reservoir packed with loose fibrous material, which material bears directly against-the back of the covering and is retained in place by the covering. This fibrous material is saturated with the moistening fluid and brings the same directly into Contact with the back of the covering l' opposite the ribbon contacting face thereof; Preferably the covering is of such thickness and texture as to complete the uniform distribution of the fluid by capillary attraction.

In addition, T. employ a filling column extending upwardly from the reservoir hereby the force of gravity aids in supplying fluid to the covering. A convenient manually operable means is embodied in the device for holding the ribbon against the wick with a uniform pressure when the device is in use.

A device embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part lof the application, wherein Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved device;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line IV'-IV of Fig. 3. Referring to the drawingfor a better understanding of my invention, my improved moistening device comprises Va reservoir l0 i having an open 'side 11; Fitting within the the loose fibrous material. The packing 14.

which extends up into the filling column is saturated with a suitable moistening Huid in the nature of an ink solvent. The fluid in the column 16 is aided by gravity in its capillary iiow through the brous material and into the 'covering 13. The quantity of fluid supplied is never enough to create a running or dripping of the fluid, but only sufhcient to saturate the covering.

I have found that a stantially 85% mineral seal oil, 6% neatsfoot oil, 4% glycerine and 5% methyl salicylate or oil of bergamot to be a suitable moistening fluid.'

With the apparatus described, I have found that if a typewriter ribbon, shown at 18, is brought to bear against the saturated covering 13 in the open face'of the reservoir .10, and the ribbon is drawn from end to end across the covering a uniform supplyl of moistening fluid is distributed to the ribbon throughout its'length.l In order that the r1bbon 18 may be held against the covering 13' with an even pressure, I provide a plate 19 hinged to the upper edge of the reservoir 10 at 21 and provided with an upwardly'extending finger piece 22 which latter is pressed forwardly by a spring 23. In use the ribbon 18 is placed under the plate 19 as shown in the drawings and is drawn across the covering 13. In manipulating the device, the filling column 16 also serves as a convenient handle, and being adjacent the finger piece 22, the plate 19 is easily operated to place it over a typewriter ribbon.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to Athose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire therefore that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art, or as are specifically y set forth in the appended claims.

It is understood that the term typewriter ribbon, as employed in the specification and claims, is intended to apply to equivalent apparatus employing an inked ribbon to obtain type impressions. y

` What I claim is:

1. A typewriter-ribbon moistener comprising a reservoirhaving an openingin one side fluid comprising subthereof and being packed ywith loose fibrous material saturated with a moistening fluid, a covering of close fibrous material disposed across the opening, and a spring pressed plate hinged across the opening and adapted topress the typewriter ribbon against the covering.

2. A typewriter ribbon moistener comprising a reservoir having an opening in one side thereof and being packed with loose fibrous material saturated-with a moistening fluid, a

covering of close fibrous material disposed across the opening, a spring ressed plate hinged across the opening and adapted to press the typewriter ribbon against the covering, 'and a filling column extending upwardly from the reservoir and having a packing of loose fibrous material saturated with a moistening fluid and bearing against the covering. y

3. A portable moistener for typewriter ribbons comprising'a reservoir having an opening in one side thereof and being packed with loose fibrous material saturated with a moistening fluid, a filling column extending upwardly from the reservoir and also packed with the loose fibrous material, a spring pressed plate covering the opening and hinged to the upper side thereof, said plate being adapted to press the ribbon against the open side of the reservoir, a finger piece for the plate extending alongside the filling column and a felt covering disposed across the opening in the side of the reservoir and bearing against .the loose fibrous material on one si e and the ribbon on the other.

4:. A typewriter ribbon moistener comprising a reservoir for a moistening fluid, said reservoir having an opening in one side thereof and being packed' with loose fibrous material, a wick like covering disposed across the opening, andv in contact with the fibrous material, a plate hinged across the opening, and adapted to press the typewriterribbon against the covering, and `means for accomplishing such pressure.

5. A typewriter ribbon moistener comprisi ing a reservoir for the moistening fluid, said reservoir having van opening in one side thereof and bein packed with loosefibrous material, a wie like covering disposed across the opening, a plate disposed across the opening, and a spring adapted to urge the plate against the ty ewriter ribbn to.

press the latter against t e covering.

6. A typewriter ribbon moistener compris' ing 'a reservoir for a moistening fluid, said reservoir having an opening in one side thereof and being packed with loose fibrous material, a wick like covering disposed across the opening, means securing said covering to the walls of said reservoir to' hold said fibrous material in place and a plate disposed across the opening adapted to press the typewriter ribbon against the covering,

7. A typewriter ribbon moistener comprising a reservoir for moistening fluid, said reservoir having an opening in one side thereof and being packed with loose fibrous material, a wick like covering disposed across the opening, and detachably secured to the reservoir walls tosecure said loose material in place, and a plate disposed across the opening, adapted to press the typewriter ribbon against the covering.

o. A typewriter ribbon moistener comprising a capillary pad, a holder therefor, a plate hinged to said holder and a spring urging said plate against a face of said pad, said pad including a body of fibrous material and a wick like facing having its rear surface in direct contact with said fibrous material.

9. A typewriter ribbon moistener comprising a capillary pad having a substantially fiat face, a holder for said pad, a plate hinged vto said holder for urging a typewriter ribbon against the face of said pad, said pad including a body of loose fibrous material, and a facing therefor of wick like material, having its rear surface in direct contact with said fibrous material.

1Q. A typewriter ribbon moistener comprising a reservoir for the moistening fluid,

said reservoir having an opening in one side thereof and being packed with loose fibrous f material, a wick like facing disposed across the opening, a cover disposed across the opening, and a spring adapted to urge the cover against the typewriter ribbon to press the latter against the wick like facing.

11. A typewriter ribbon moistener co-mprising a capillary pad, ay holder therefor, a substantially flat cover hinged -to said holder and means urging said cover against'the face `of said pad, said vpad including a body of fibrous material and a wick like facing having its rear surface in direct contact with said fibrous material. 1

12. A typewriter ribbon moistener including a holder for moistening fluid having an outlet, a capillary member associated with' the outlet to feed fluid contained in the holder, an element disposed in advance of the capillary member, means to connect the element to the holder-for movement toward and away therefrom, and means engaged with the element to urge the element against the ribbon thereby to hold the latter in engagement with the capillary member.

13. A typewriter ribbon moistener including a holder for moistening fluid having an open portion, aV capillary member in the holder associated with said open portion, a

member for holding the ribbon against said capillary member, and means to hingedly connect the ribbon holding member to the holder whereby to position release same.

14. yA typewriter ribbon moistener includ,- ying a holder for moistening fluid having an the ribbon and to open side, a strip-like capillary member having its central portion extending across said open iside, an open frame within the holder and over which said member is stretched and engaged with the end portions of the member to hold said end portions against the adjacent parts of the interior of the holder thereby to secure the member in osition, and a pressure member carried by t e holder to hold a typewriter ribbon against the capillary member.

15. A typewriter ribbon moistener including a holder for moistening fluid having an open side, a strip-like capillary member having its central portion extending across said vmember against movement, and a pressure member carried by the holder toA hold a typewriter ribbon against the capillary member.

16. A typewriter ribbon moistener including a holder for the moistenin fluid havin an opening, a capillary mem er associate with the opening, a ribbon engaging element disposed in advance of said member, means to movably connect the element to the holder, and means to urge the element against the ribbon whereby to press l'the latter against the' capillarymember.

17. A typewriter ribbon moistener including a casing for holding moistening fluid having an open side', a .capillary member secured within the casing and conforming to said-open side, an element for holding the ribbon against said capillary member, and extending entirely over the open side, and means to hinfedly connect the ribbon holding element tb the casing whereby to position the ribbon and -to release same.

18. A typewriter ribbon moistenerincluding a holder for moistening fluid having an open side, a strip-like capillary member having its central portion extending across said I open side, and having its end portions projecting within the holder so as to come in contact with the moistening fluid within the holder, means toisecure each of the end portions of the capillary member within the holder and a pressure member carried by the holder to hold the typewriter ribbon against the capillary member.

19. A typewriter ribbon; moistener comprising a reservoir for the moistening-Huid, said reservoir having an opening in one side thereof, a wick-like coverino associated with the opening, a plate disposedD across the opening outwardly of said covering, anda spring adapted to urge the plate against the typewriter ribbon to press the latter against the covering.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my 

